Biography

Declan Patrick McManus, 25 August 1954, Paddington, London, England, and after attending Hounslow Secondary Modern moved with his mother to Liverpool. His father was the singer and band leader Ross McManus, a featured vocalist with the Joe Loss Orchestra and the voice behind the R. Whites Secret Lemonade Drinker commercial. After completing his education and moving back to London, Costello took the first of several menial jobs. By this point in time (the early 70s) he had begun singing in folk clubs, both as a solo artist and with fellow musician Allan Mayes in Rusty. In 1974 he formed the pub rock outfit Flip City with his friends Mich Kent and Malcolm Dennis, and in November of the same year married for the first time. By the end of the following year Flip City had folded, and Costello was forced to take a job as a computer operator for the Elizabeth Arden factory in Acton. He went back to performing as a solo artist, billing himself as DP Costello...